Note-sheet-feed mechanism for musical instruments.



N0. 888,587. .PATENTBD MAY. 28,- 1908;

W. E. CLEVELAND. NOTE SHEET FEED MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26.1907.

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WILLARD E. CLEVELAND, OF OREGON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO NATIONAL PIANOPLAYER COMPANY, OF OREGON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

NOTE-SHEET-FEED MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD E. CLEVE- LAND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oregon, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in N ote-Sheet-FeedMechanism for Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to automatically start the movement ofthe note sheet immediately after the pump has been started. 4

This invention consists in the employment of a pneumatic and a weightedframe which is released when the air is exhausted from the pneumatic,thereby acting upon a pressure roller to move it against the note sheetlaid in contact with the rotating feed roller with sufiicient pressureto insure the movement of the note sheet.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is an elevation of myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on dotted line a aFig. 1, in which the parts are in the posi tion they occupy when atrest. Fig. 3 is a similar-section in which the parts are in operativeposition.

The side plates 1- and 2 are held. separated by a suitable number ofcross-rods 3. A note sheet feed roller 4 is supported by the side platesin a manner to permit of its rotation, and is intended to be constantlyrotated during the operation of the instrument by any suitablemechanism, which is not deemed necessary to be shown. Rollers 5, 6, 7and 8 are supported by the side plates in a manner to be rotated by themovement of the note sheet and serve to direct the note sheet from oneroll, to the other. A tracker-bar 9 is located between the rollers 6 and5 and is supported by the side plates. A note sheet 10 is supported bythe rollers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and passes over the tracker-bar 9 as shownin the cross-sections. A pressure roller 11 is supported by the sidelates in a manner to rotate idly, and capab e of a bodily movementtoward and from the feed roller4 by its journals being located in theslots 12 in the side plates.

A frame is composed of two end bars 13 pivoted to the inner face of theside plates by the screws 14, and adjacent the point of pivot they areenlarged to form cams 15. A-roller 16 is pivotally supported by theend-bar 13.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1907.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 390,157.

A brace 17 connects the end-bars 13. To one of the side plates isfixedly connected a pneumatic 18 and the tube 19 is intended to beconnected with the exhaust chamber of the instrument with which anexhaust airpump has a connection, such chamber being old I have notdeemed it necessary to show it. A pin 20 is guided in an ear 21extending from one of the side plates in a manner to slide lengthwisefreely therewith. A link 22 forms a connection between the pin 20 andpneumatic.

When the instrument is not playing, the swinging frame is held uprightby the pin 20 protruding sufliciently to receive one of the end-bars 13of the frame as shown at Fig. 2. To the inner face of each of the sideplates is pivoted a bar 23 about midway of its length. The lowerportions of these bars are adapted to engage the journals of thepressure roller 11, and their upper portions are adapted to be engagedby the cams 15 of'the end bars 13.

The operation of my improvements are as follows. When the instrument isat rest, for instance, when a new note sheet has to be placed inposition in connection with the various rollers, the swinging frame willbe held in its elevated position by the pin 20 as shown at Fig. 2, andthe ressure roller 11 may stand free of the fee roller 4. After the notesheet has been properly placed in connection with the various rollers,the feed roller is set in rotative motion by any suitable means. Theaction of the pump will be to exhaust air from the pneumatic, therebycollapsing it, and this collapsible action of the pneumatic will retractthe pin 20 which will allow the swinging frame to fall. This frame infalling will cause the cams 15 to act upon the upper portions of thebars 23 and move the lower portions of the bars against the journals ofthe pressure roller 11 and move the roller bodily against the feedroller 4, as shown at Fig. 3. The weighted roller 16 will rest againstthe note sheet and cause the sheet to embrace a greater surface of thefeed roller thereby increasing the driving ower of the feed roller uponthe note sheet. hen it is desired to place a new note sheet in theinstrument, the swinging frame is manually raised behind the pin 20which movement, will permit the pressure roller to be separated. fromthe feed roller thereby leaving the note sheet free.

I claim as my invention. 1. In a device of the character described, thecombination of a feed roller, a pressure roller normally out of contacttherewith,

mechanically operated means for holding the pressure roller in contactwith the feed roller at times, means for holding the mechanical meansinoperative and pneumatic devices for releasing the holding means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a feedroller, a pressure roller normally out of contact therewith, a swingingframe adapted to hold the pressure roller in contact with the feedroller at times, means for holding the swinging frame inoperative, andpneumatic devices for releasing the holding means.-

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a feedroller, a pressure roller normally out of contact therewith, a swingingframe having ends formed in cams, pivoted bars located between the camsand the journals of the pressure roller, means for holding the frameinoperative, and pneumatic devices for releasing the holding means.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a notesheet, a feed roller over which the note sheet travels, an idle rolleradapted to engage the note sheet and increase the surface contact of thenote sheet with the feed roller, means holding the idle rollerinoperative and pneumatic devices for releasing the holding means.

.5. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a note sheet, a feed roller over which the note sheettravels, a swinging frame comprising an idle roller adapted to engagethe note sheet and increase the surface contact of the note sheet withthe feed roller, means for holding the frame and consequently the idleroller inactive, a pressure roller normally out ol contact with the feedroller, means operated by the swinging frame for holding the pressureroller in con tact with the feed. roller at times, and pneumatic devicesfor releasing the first named holding means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

\VILLARD E. CLEVELAN I).

I/Vitnesses A. O. BEIIEL, E. D. E. N. BEIIEL.

